Cité de l’espace in Toulouse: an immersive journey to the heart of the universe
The Cité de l’espace, inaugurated in June 1997 on the initiative of the City of Toulouse, has become one of Europe’s most emblematic scientific centres dedicated to the culture of space and astronomy. Covering more than 3.5 hectares of gardens and around 4,000 m² of exhibition space, this unique venue offers the general public a host of impressive installations, including a life-size 55 m Ariane 5 rocket, the Mir space station, Soyuz modules and life-size replicas of the Perseverance and Zhurong Mars rovers.
Embark on an interstellar voyage in Toulouse
The visitor route is a clever blend of interactive, fun and total immersion: from an ultra-realistic planetarium (140 and 280 seats with 8K hemispheric screen and IMAX), to simulators like LuneXplorer – a centrifuge experiment reproducing the take-off and lunar landing at up to 2 G, guided by testimonies from Thomas Pesquet – not forgetting the “Carré de l’actualité”, which connects visitors live to the International Space Station.
Toulouse’s scientific jewel
Designed for all ages, the Cité de l’espace also includes the “Cité des Petits” (for 4-8 year olds), themed events (astronomy, weather, ESA recruitment, etc.) as well as Nocturnes and events such as the Nuit des étoiles.
Visiting the Cité de l’espace is like taking a sensory and educational odyssey through the history and challenges of the conquest of space – an inspiring place to inspire scientific vocations and a window onto infinity, at the heart of Europe’s space capital.
